TIDMSLP
RNS Number : 9477Y
Sylvania Platinum Limited
28 August 2018
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
28 August 2018
Sylvania Platinum Limited
("Sylvania" or "the Company")
AIM (SLP)
Year-End Report to 30 June 2018
The Directors are pleased to present the results for the
financial year ended 30 June 2018 ("FY2018"). Unless otherwise
stated, the consolidated financial information contained in this
report is presented in US Dollars ("USD").
Achievements
-- Maiden cash dividend of 0.35 pence per share recommended by the Board of Directors;
-- Sylvania Dump Operations ("SDO") delivered 71,026 4E PGM
ounces for the year - the fifth consecutive year of record
production;
-- Net Revenue up 24% to $62.8 million (FY2017: $50.5 million);
-- Group EBITDA improved by 21% on FY2017 to $22.2 million and
Group net profit of $11.0 million, a 24% improvement compared to
the previous period;
-- Positive Group cash balance of $14.0 million (including guarantees of $1.0 million);
-- Acquired Phoenix Platinum Mining (Pty) Ltd (renamed Lesedi)
in November 2017 for R89.0 million ($6.3 million) and successfully
integrated into the SDO;
-- First two modules of Project Echo successfully commissioned
during the year at Millsell and Doornbosch;
-- Outstanding safety achievements by the SDO with Lesedi
achieving seven years LTI-free, Doornbosch and Tweefontein both
achieving six years LTI-free and Lannex and Millsell remaining
LTI-free for more than three years;
-- Mining Right for the Grasvally Chrome Project granted during the year;
-- As at 30 June 2018, purchased a total of 2,281,570 Ordinary
$0.01 Shares at A$0.1619 each at a cost of A$369,386 under the
Share Buyback Programme ("the Programme"), offered to small, non-UK
shareholders. At the close of the Programme on 24 August 2018,
total shares purchased amounted to 2,397,481 at a cost of
A$388,152, to be cancelled, thereby returning value to
shareholders; and
-- 6,848,235 Ordinary $0.01 Shares cancelled in FY2018.
Challenges
-- The delayed Water Use License Application ("WULA")
authorisation for the new Millsell tailings facility reduced feed
tons and grade during the first half of the financial year, but has
since stabilised;
-- Lower PGM feed grades at some operations, associated with the
feed ratio of fresh current arisings and run-of-mine ("ROM") to
historical dump material, impacted ounce production during the
year;
-- Execution of Project Echo's Tweefontein MF2 module delayed
due to power distribution infrastructure constraints to the
mine;
-- SDO cash costs increased 20% in South African Rand ("ZAR")
terms (functional currency) to ZAR6,969/ounce ($543/ounce)
year-on-year primarily due to one-off costs associated with the
purchase and incorporation of Lesedi into the SDO, higher re-mining
and tailings deposition costs due to the delay in the commissioning
of the new Millsell tailings dam, and the impact of historically
higher cost ounces contribution from Lesedi replacing significantly
lower cost ounces from Steelpoort; and
-- The Company remains cognisant that power supply
infrastructure integrity and supply capacity from the power utility
continues to present challenges as the supply of electricity to the
SDO for existing operations and expansion projects is affected.
Opportunities
-- The Company remains debt free with a positive cash balance
which allows the Company to continue to fund capital expansion
projects with existing cash resources;
-- In order to counter delays experienced in the commissioning
of the Tweefontein Project Echo MF2 module, the decision was taken
to fast-track Mooinooi's MF2;
-- PGM grade and recovery optimisation initiatives were
identified, incorporating proprietary processing modifications, and
are currently being implemented at the Millsell, Doornbosch and
Tweefontein operations to further mitigate PGM ounce production
impact associated with the delay in the Tweefontein MF2 module and
to support the increased production profile for FY2019; and
-- Relocation of the redundant Steelpoort chrome circuit to
Lesedi was identified to improve chrome removal ahead of flotation
and to enable higher PGM feed as per the standard SDO operating
model.
Commenting on the Year-End results, Sylvania's CEO Terry
McConnachie said:
"Despite an increase in operating costs over the past financial
year, Sylvania is still regarded as one of the lowest cost PGM
producers in the world. For this I compliment Management and the
Operations teams for not only keeping their heads above water
during conditions often outside of their control, but also showing
ingenuity and resilience in their ability to adjust management
plans and take opportunistic decisions resulting in a solid
operational performance. I look forward to what FY2019 has in
store, as well as achieving our stated guidance of 76,000 to 78,000
ounces.
I am also pleased to advise that the Board has recommended that
a maiden cash dividend of 0.35 pence per share be paid following
Shareholder approval at the AGM in November 2018. More detail is
contained in the Chairman's Letter in the Company's Annual
Report."
USD Unit Unaudited Unit ZAR
FY2017 FY2018 % Change % Change FY2018 FY2017
-------------- --------- ------ -------------------- ------------ ----------- ------------- -------------
Production
-------------- --------- ------ -------------------- ------------ ----------- ------------- -------------
2,137,007 2,302,560 8% T Plant Feed T 8% 2,302,560 2,137,007
-------------- --------- ------ -------------------- ------------ ----------- ------------- -------------
2.65 2.47 -7% g/t Feed Head Grade g/t -7% 2.47 2.65
-------------- --------- ------ -------------------- ------------ ----------- ------------- -------------
1,168,912 1,241,825 6% T PGM Plant Feed Tons T 6% 1,241,825 1,168,912
-------------- --------- ------ -------------------- ------------ ----------- ------------- -------------
PGM Plant Feed
4.06 3.63 -11% g/t Grade g/t -11% 3.63 4.06
-------------- --------- ------ -------------------- ------------ ----------- ------------- -------------
46.44% 45.09% -3% % PGM Plant Recovery % -3% 45.09% 46.44%
-------------- --------- ------ -------------------- ------------ ----------- ------------- -------------
70,869 71,026 0% Oz Total 4E PGMs Oz 0% 71,026 70,869
-------------- --------- ------ -------------------- ------------ ----------- ------------- -------------
94,528 94,303 0% Oz Total 6E PGMs Oz 0% 94,303 94,528
-------------- --------- ------ -------------------- ------------ ----------- ------------- -------------
Average gross
basket
935 1,135 21% $/oz price R/oz 14% 14,552 12,726
-------------- --------- ------ -------------------- ------------ ----------- ------------- -------------
Financials
-------------- --------- ------ -------------------- ------------ ----------- ------------- -------------
47,156 52,275 11% $'000 Revenue (4E) R'000 4% 670,370 641,854
-------------- --------- ------ -------------------- ------------ ----------- ------------- -------------
Revenue (by
2,764 5,524 100% $'000 products) R'000 88% 70,835 37,616
-------------- --------- ------ -------------------- ------------ ----------- ------------- -------------
577 4,970 761% $'000 Sales adjustments R'000 711% 63,734 7,855
-------------- --------- ------ -------------------- ------------ ----------- ------------- -------------
50,497 62,769 24% $'000 Net revenue R'000 17% 804,939 687,325
-------------- --------- ------ -------------------- ------------ ----------- ------------- -------------
30,546 38,627 26% $'000 Operating costs R'000 19% 495,354 415,764
-------------- --------- ------ -------------------- ------------ ----------- ------------- -------------
General and
administrative
1,981 2,036 3% $'000 costs R'000 -3% 26,107 26,963
-------------- --------- ------ -------------------- ------------ ----------- ------------- -------------
18,327 22,206 21% $'000 Group EBITDA R'000 14% 284,768 249,456
-------------- --------- ------ -------------------- ------------ ----------- ------------- -------------
644 584 -9% $'000 Net Interest R'000 -15% 7,494 8,769
-------------- --------- ------ -------------------- ------------ ----------- ------------- -------------
4,333 5,112 18% $'000 Taxation R'000 11% 65,553 58,980
-------------- --------- ------ -------------------- ------------ ----------- ------------- -------------
Depreciation and
5,710 6,637 16% $'000 amortisation R'000 10% 85,111 77,725
-------------- --------- ------ -------------------- ------------ ----------- ------------- -------------
8,873 10,989 24% $'000 Net profit R'000 17% 140,921 120,766
-------------- --------- ------ -------------------- ------------ ----------- ------------- -------------
4,201 7,912 88% $'000 Capital Expenditure R'000 77% 101,462 57,186
-------------- --------- ------ -------------------- ------------ ----------- ------------- -------------
R/$ Ave R/$ rate R/$ -6% 12.82 13.61
-------------- --------- ------ -------------------- ------------ ----------- ------------- -------------
15,321 14,016 -9% $'000 Cash Balance R'000 -8% 192,716 208,539
-------------- --------- ------ -------------------- ------------ ----------- ------------- -------------
Unit
Cost/Efficiencies
-------------- --------- ------ -------------------- ------------ ----------- ------------- -------------
SDO Cash Cost Per
4E
426 543 27% $/oz PGM oz R/oz 20% 6,969 5,802
-------------- --------- ------ -------------------- ------------ ----------- ------------- -------------
SDO Cash Cost Per
6E
320 409 28% $/oz PGM oz R/oz 21% 5,249 4,350
-------------- --------- ------ -------------------- ------------ ----------- ------------- -------------
Group Cash Cost Per
453 567 25% $/oz 4E PGM oz R/oz 18% 7,274 6,166
-------------- --------- ------ -------------------- ------------ ----------- ------------- -------------
Group Cash Cost Per
340 427 26% $/oz 6E PGM oz R/oz 19% 5,478 4,623
-------------- --------- ------ -------------------- ------------ ----------- ------------- -------------
All-in sustaining
cost
442 565 28% $/oz (4E) R/oz 20% 7,245 6,020
-------------- --------- ------ -------------------- ------------ ----------- ------------- -------------
494 655 33% $/oz All-in cost (4E) R/oz 25% 8,406 6,723
-------------- --------- ------ -------------------- ------------ ----------- ------------- -------------
1 The Sylvania cash generating subsidiaries are incorporated in
South Africa with the functional currency of these operations being
ZAR. Revenues from the sale of PGMs are incurred in USD and then
converted into ZAR. The Group's reporting currency is USD as the
parent company is incorporated in Bermuda. Corporate and general
and administration costs are incurred in USD, GBP and ZAR.
A. OPERATIONAL OVERVIEW
Health, safety and environment
The Company has continued to implement its high safety standards
at all of the operations. Due to a combined effort by Management
and the employees, there were no significant health or
environmental incidents during the year. The Lesedi operation
achieved seven years LTI-free during the final quarter of the
financial year, with Tweefontein and Doornbosch operations
remaining LTI-free for six years. Lannex and Millsell have remained
LTI-free for more than three years, however Mooinooi unfortunately
suffered a hand-related LTI during the period.
Operational performance
The SDO once again showed strength over adversity and delivered
71,026 ounces for the financial year, which included a record
quarterly production in Q4 of 20,278 ounces and resulted in the
fifth consecutive year of record annual production.
A 6% year-on-year improvement in PGM treatment tons assisted to
mitigate the impact of an 11% lower PGM feed grade and a 3%
decrease in recovery efficiency. This was associated with a delay
in the authorisation of the water use licence for the new tailings
dam facility at Millsell, which subsequently resulted in lower
grade tailings being processed first, as well as lower volumes of
higher grade current arisings and ROM material treated at some
operations. The tailings dam is now in operation and the original
re-mining site was re-established in January 2018. Feed grades have
returned to planned levels. PGM production was further impacted by
the planned closure of Steelpoort in June 2017, but fortunately
this was mitigated by the timely acquisition of Lesedi and the
attributable ounces obtained since takeover in November 2017. PGM
feed tons and grades normalised and the production trend improved
steadily from Q3 onwards. It should be noted that the dip in SDO
production relating to the planned Steelpoort closure and the
December/January holiday shut-down formed part of Management's 2018
business plan. However, the continued delay in the Millsell
tailings dam alternative lining approval and the lower than
anticipated current arisings were unplanned.
The SDO cash cost increased 20% in ZAR terms, the operations
functional currency, from ZAR5,802/ounce to ZAR6,969/ounce, whilst
the USD cash cost increased 27% year-on-year due to the
strengthening of the ZAR year-on-year ($543/ounce against
$426/ounce in FY2017). The primary contributors to higher operating
costs were one-off costs associated with the purchase and
incorporation of Lesedi into the SDO, higher re-mining and tailings
deposition costs due to Millsell's new tailings dam commissioning
delay, and the impact of historically higher cost ounces
contribution from Lesedi replacing significantly lower cost ounces
from Steelpoort.
Operational focus areas and opportunities
With treatment tonnages up across operations, the primary focus
was on identifying and implementing opportunistic measures to
counteract the production challenges experienced related to lower
feed grade and recovery efficiencies, and to optimise operating
costs.
The delayed water use licence authorisation by authorities at
Millsell and the impact of the consequent delay in the
commissioning of the new tailings dam were addressed in detail in
the Half-Year report. Fundamentally, this impacted negatively on
the available dump resource grade and re-mining strategy during the
first half of the year until the new tailings dam became
operational in November 2017 and the original re-mining site was
re-established in January 2018. Higher grade dump material was
trucked from one of the neighbouring SDO operations to supplement
feed grades and improve production during this period, but
unfortunately this also resulted in higher re-mining costs.
Also, highlighted in the Half-Year report, the roll-out of the
Project Echo MF2 module at Tweefontein has been delayed due to
power distrtibution infrastructure constraints, and it is
anticipated that construction will commence by mid-FY2019 dependent
on the power utility's completion of an infrastructure upgrade to
the area. In order to mitigate the impact of this delay, it was
decided to fast-track the MF2 module at Mooinooi, with
commissioning planned in early 2019.
Lesedi
During the financial year, the Company finalised the acquisition
of Lesedi. Takeover of operations occurred in November 2017 for the
cash purchase price of ZAR89.0 million ($6.3 million), which was
funded internally.
Several initiatives at the operation have been implemented in
order to address cost efficiencies and production. The primary
focus, as with all operations, is on increasing plant production
volumes, improving plant feed stability, feed grade and recovery
efficiency to assist with PGM ounce production, and also to
implement action plans to reduce overall production costs.
Besides the initiatives previously addressed in the Half-Year
report regarding the mass pull optimisation strategy, plant
debottlenecking, resource scheduling, and the termination of a
costly outsourced plant operation and maintenance contract,
Management has also identified the opportunity to relocate the
redundant Steelpoort chrome circuit to Lesedi. This project will be
commissioned during FY2019 and will improve chrome removal ahead of
flotation which will enable higher PGM feed, analogous to the
standard Sylvania SDO operating model.
B. FINANCIAL OVERVIEW
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF PROFIT OR LOSS
For the year ended 30 June
2018 2017
Notes $ $
Revenue 1 62,768,561 50,497,045
Cost of sales (45,256,978) (36,241,259)
Gross profit 17,511,583 14,255,786
Other income 60,486 271,852
Other expenses 2 (2,055,788) (1,966,112)
Operating profit before net finance
income and income tax expense 15,516,281 12,561,526
Finance income 878,191 888,548
Finance costs (293,792) (244,292)
Profit before income tax expense 16,100,680 13,205,782
Income tax expense (5,111,783) (4,333,218)
Net profit for the year 10,988,897 8,872,564
============= =============
1. Revenue is generated from the sale of PGM 6E ounces produced
at the seven retreatment plants (including Sylvania Lesedi), net of
pipeline sales adjustments.
2. Other expenses relate to corporate activities and include PR
and advisory costs ($0.1million), travel ($0.2million), share
registry costs ($0.05million), Director's fees ($0.3million), share
base payments ($0.4million) and other smaller administrative
costs.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
For the year ended 30 June
2018 2017
Notes $ $
Net cash inflow from operating activities 3 15,044,774 12,074,340
Net cash outflow from investing activities 4 (13,710,092) (3,631,791)
Net cash outflow from financing activities 5 (1,564,849) (791,782)
------------------------------------------- ------------
Net (decrease)/increase in cash and
cash equivalents (230,167) 7,650,767
Effect of foreign exchange fluctuations
on cash held (1,074,543) 963,328
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning
of year 15,321,117 6,707,022
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year 14,016,407 15,321,117
------------------------------------------- ------------
3. Net cash inflow from operating activities includes a net
operating cash inflow of $18,342,551, net finance income of
$754,926 and taxation paid of $4,054,932;
4. Net cash outflow from investing activities includes payments
for property, plant and equipment of $7,548,987, exploration and
evaluation assets of $362,934, acquisition of Sylvania Lesedi of
$6,272,453, rehabilitation insurance guarantee of $207,737 and loan
to joint venture $665,359, cash inflow of $1,178,357 from Ironveld
Holdings for the final settlement of the loan facility.
5. The net cash outflow from financing activities consists of
the repayment of borrowings of $150,180 and payments for share
transactions of $1,414,669.
Financial Overview
Sylvania reports and generates its revenues in USD, however the
operational costs are incurred in ZAR. For the financial year under
review the average USD:ZAR exchange rate was ZAR12.82:$1 against
the ZAR13.61:$1 recorded in the previous period, and the spot at 30
June 2018 was ZAR13.75:$1.
Revenue on sales (4E) increased 11% in USD terms to $52.3
million year-on-year. Revenue on by products increased
significantly to $5.5 million (ZAR70.8 million) and net revenue
increased 24% and 17% in USD and ZAR terms respectively to $62.8
million and ZAR804.9 million.
The average gross basket price for PGMs for the financial year
was $1,135/ounce, a 21% increase on the prior year's $935/ounce.
Although the Platinum and Palladium prices fell sharply in the
second half of the year, the SDO PGM basket is such that the
Company benefited from the higher Rhodium price and this is carried
through to the basket price.
The significant improvement in revenue from by-products was
primarily due to the significant average increase in metal prices
for Iridium and Ruthenium elements during the financial year of
approximately 42% and 255% respectively.
Revenue split 30 June 2018 30 June 2017
$'000 $'000
Revenue on sales (4E)(1) 52,275 47,156
Revenue (by products)(2) 5,524 2,764
Sales adjustments(3) 4,970 577
------------- -------------
Net revenue 62,769 50,497
------------- -------------
(1) Sales revenue from Platinum, Palladium, Rhodium and Gold
(2) Sales revenue from other metals in the concentrate produced
of Ruthenium, Iridium, Nickel and Copper
(3) Adjustments to revenue recognised for movements in the PGM
price and exchange rate on ounces delivered but not yet invoiced as
contractually agreed(.)
Note: The above table is rounded to the nearest thousand.
Group Cash cost increased 25% year-on-year from $453/ounce
(ZAR6,166/ounce) to $567/ounce (ZAR7,274/ounce), which is due to
the increase in the SDO cash costs as detailed under the
operational performance section above. The All-in Sustaining Costs
("AISC") also increased 28% to $565/ounce (ZAR7,245/ounce) from
$442/ounce (ZAR6,020/ounce) with All-in Costs ("AIC") (4E)
increasing 33% to $655/ounce (ZAR8,406/ounce) from $494/ounce
(ZAR6,723/ounce) recorded in the previous period. The AISC and AIC
were both impacted by the planned increase in capital spend.
Finance income is earned in ZAR on surplus cash invested in
short-term money market deposits and interest charged on the loan
to the research and development joint-venture (TS Consortium). The
cash invested will be used to fund the balance of Project Echo and
other recovery and optimisation initiatives.
Finance expenses include interest paid on instalment sale
agreements over assets purchased and the unwinding of the
rehabilitation and restoration provision.
Income tax is paid in ZAR on taxable profits generated by the
South African operations. The current income tax charge for the
financial year ended 30 June 2018 was ZAR61.7 million ($4.8
million) of which ZAR52.0 million ($4.1 million) was paid at 30
June 2018. The balance of the income tax expense relates to
deferred tax movements for the year.
The Company remains debt free, with a cash balance of $14.0
million, allowing for the continued funding of Project Echo.
Cash generated from operations before working capital movements
was $22.9 million, with net changes in working capital resulting in
a reduction of $4.5 million. Net finance income amounted to $0.8
million and $4.1 million was paid in income taxes during the year.
Major spend items include the purchase of Lesedi for $6.3 million,
$0.4 million spent on exploration activities (FY2017: $0.7
million), $7.6 million on capital projects and stay in business
capital for the SDO plants (FY2017: $3.5 million). At a corporate
level, $1.4 million was paid to non-UK shareholders under the Share
Buyback Programme as well as other strategic buy backs in the
market (FY2017: $0.6 million). $0.2 million was spent on the
rehabilitation insurance guarantees and the outstanding loan to
Ironveld Holdings (Pty) Ltd was settled during the year resulting
in an inflow of $1.2 million. The impact of exchange rate
fluctuations on cash held at year end was $1.1 million loss
(FY2017: $1.0 million gain).
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
At 30 June
2018 2017
Notes $ $
Assets
Non-current assets
Equity-accounted investees 6 416,442 446,104
Other financial assets 7 1,432,456 586,271
Exploration and evaluation assets 57,397,256 57,587,900
Property, plant and equipment 8 35,790,425 32,257,692
Total non-current assets 95,036,579 90,877,967
------------ ------------
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents 9 14,016,407 15,321,117
Trade and other receivables 10 25,429,912 19,502,105
Other financial assets - 1,148,327
Inventories 11 1,488,382 1,797,930
Current tax receivable 14,741 756,255
Total current assets 40,949,442 38,525,734
------------ ------------
Total assets 135,986,021 129,403,701
------------ ------------
Equity and liabilities
Shareholders' equity
Issued capital 12 2,911,337 2,979,819
Reserves 13 68,053,385 72,623,111
Retained earnings 41,025,586 30,036,689
------------ ------------
Total equity 111,990,308 105,639,619
------------ ------------
Non-current liabilities
Interest bearing loans and borrowings 14 173,895 323,419
Provisions 15 3,685,257 3,626,989
Deferred tax liability 14,326,214 14,591,815
Total non-current liabilities 18,185,366 18,542,223
------------ ------------
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables 5,676,574 5,075,120
Interest bearing loans and borrowings 14 132,700 146,739
Current tax liability 1,073 -
Total current liabilities 5,810,347 5,221,859
------------ ------------
Total liabilities 23,995,713 23,764,082
------------ ------------
Total liabilities and shareholders'
equity 135,986,021 129,403,701
------------ ------------
6. Equity-accounted investees consist of a 50% interest in a
joint venture research and development project, TS Consortium,
which operates a pilot pelletiser plant in South Africa.
7. Other financial assets consist of the investment linked to
the rehabilitation insurance guarantee included in non-current
assets and the loan receivable granted to TS Consorium from
Sylvania South Africa (Pty) Ltd, a South African subsidiary of the
Group.
8. Lesedi assets have been brought in at fair value. First two
project Echo modules completed at cost of ZAR53.4 million, Millsell
tailings dam completed ZAR7.2 million and purchase of CTRP plant
ZAR6.5 million (ZAR5 million cash outflow from the Group).
9. The majority of the cash and cash equivalents are held in
South Africa and ZAR denominated balances make up $10,189,457
(ZAR140,097,859) of the total cash and cash equivalents
balance.
10. Trade and other receivables consist mainly of amounts
receivable for the sale of PGMs.
11. Inventory held is stores and consumables for the SDO.
12. The total number of issued ordinary shares at 30 June is
291,133,661 Ordinary Shares of US$0.01 each (including 4,853,231
shares held in treasury). A total of 6,848,235 shares were
cancelled during the period.
13. Reserves include the share premium reserve, foreign currency
translation reserve, which is used to record exchange differences
arising from the translation of financial statements of foreign
controlled entities, share-based payments reserve, reserve for own
shares, the non-controlling interests reserve and the equity
reserve.
14. Interest bearing loans and borrowings are secured instalment
sale agreements over various motor vehicles and plant and
equipment.
15. Provision is made for the present value of closure,
restoration and environmental rehabilitation costs in the financial
period when the related environmental disturbance.
C. EXPLORATION AND OPENCAST MINING PROJECTS
The Company has, for the most part, not pursued its exploration
interests during the past financial year, due mostly to
unfavourable market conditions. It has, however, maintained value
in a way that continues to be in shareholders' interest.
Volspruit Platinum Exploration
There has been no further communication received from the
Department of Mineral Resources on the appeal lodged by Interested
and Affected Parties against the decision to grant a Mining Right
Application to the Company, nor from the Member of the Executive
Council for Economic Development and Environment and Tourism on the
appeal against the decision to refuse the Company's application for
an Environmental Authorisation.
As reported previously, once a decision is received on these
appeals, the Company will proceed with its WULA, for which the
majority of the necessary work has been completed, with only the
detailed design of civil infrastructure, as called for in the
National Water Act, outstanding.
Grasvally Chrome Exploration
No further work has been done on Phase 1 of the Grasvally Bulk
Sample apart from that which was reported on in the half-year
report published in February 2018. The Company will continue to
keep shareholders apprised of any developments as they occur.
The Company was pleased to receive word that the Mining Right
for the project had been granted just before the close of the
reporting period. Execution of the right is imminent where after it
will be registered in the Mining Titles Office.
Northern Limb Projects
The Company has concluded the agreement made in March 2012
relating to the acquisition of the Ironveld Group from Sylvania by
Mercury Recycling Group Plc (now Ironveld Plc) during the period,
whereby consent was received in terms of section 11 of the Mineral
and Petroleum Resources Development Act to cede the rights to mine
heavy minerals, iron ore and vanadium ore on the farms Nonnenworth,
La Pucella and Altona to Lapon Mining (Pty) Ltd, a subsidiary of
Ironveld Plc. In terms of this transaction, dividends in specie
were distributed to Sylvania shareholders in August 2012.
D. CORPORATE ACTIVITIES
Dividends
The Board of Directors are in the process of revising the
Dividend Policy and the details of the new policy will be released
in due course. Details of what the policy will encompass can be
found in the Chairman's Letter in the Annual Report on the
Company's website.
The Board recommends that a dividend of 0.35 pence per Ordinary
$0.01 Share be paid following approval at the AGM to be held on 23
November 2018.
Exercise of Share Options, Share Buybacks and Cancellation of
Shares
The Company is intent on returning capital to shareholders and
continue to review opportunities to do so as and when they arise.
Such opportunities presented themselves during the first half of
the financial year, when the Company bought back shares in the
market, and announced the details of its Share Buyback
Programme.
The Company purchased 3,333,011 Ordinary $0.01 Shares which were
immediately cancelled in October 2017. Directors and senior
management exercised vested options and bonus share awards,
converting to 4,602,900 Ordinary $0.01 Shares. The Company agreed
to buy back certain of these shares to settle the tax liability of
South African employees, and also bought back an additional 835,650
number of shares at the, then, 30-day VWAP price of 10.85 pence.
The net amount of 3,517,250 shares was satisfied from shares held
in Treasury. Surplus shares held in Treasury amounting to 3,515,224
Ordinary Shares were also cancelled bringing the total number of
shares cancelled during the reporting period to 6,848,235. The
Board also took the decision to cancel the Company's Share Option
Plan.
A further 280,000 Ordinary Shares of $0.01 each were bought back
from certain employees exercising vested Bonus Shares in June 2018.
These were purchased at the 30-day VWAP and placed back into
Treasury.
As at 30 June 2018, shares bought back in terms of the Share
Buyback Programme announced in August 2017, totaled 2,281,570
Ordinary $0.01 Shares, at a price of A$0.1619 per Ordinary Share,
at a total expenditure of A$369,386. Upon the expiry of the
Programme, announced as 24 August 2018, a total of 2,397,481 shares
had been purchased in accordance with this Programme at a total
expenditure of A$388,152 and placed into Treasury to be
subsequently cancelled.
Accordingly, at the end of the reporting period the Company's
issued share capital was 291,133,661 Ordinary Shares, of which a
total of 4,853,231 Ordinary Shares were held in Treasury.
Therefore, as at 30 June 2018, the total number of Ordinary Shares
with voting rights in Sylvania was 286,280,430 Ordinary Shares.
CORPORATE INFORMATION
Registered and postal Sylvania Platinum Limited
address:
Clarendon House
2 Church Street
Hamilton HM 11
Bermuda
SA Operations postal PO Box 976
address:
Florida Hills, 1716
South Africa
Sylvania Website: www.sylvaniaplatinum.com
CONTACT DETAILS
For further information, please
contact:
Terence McConnachie (Chief Executive
Officer) +44 777 533 7175
Nominated Advisor and Broker
Liberum Capital Limited +44 (0) 20 3100 2000
Neil Elliot / Richard Crawley
Communications
Alma PR Limited +44 (0) 7580 216 203
Josh Royston / Helena Bogle
[This announcement is released by Sylvania Platinum Limited and
contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of the
Market Abuse Regulation (EU) 596/2014 ("MAR"), and is disclosed in
accordance with the Company's obligations under Article 17 of
MAR.
For the purposes of MAR and Article 2 of Commission Implementing
Regulation (EU) 2016/1055, this announcement is being made on
behalf of the Company by Terence McConnachie].
ANNEXURE
GLOSSARY OF TERMS FY2018
The following definitions apply throughout the period:
4E PGM ounces include the precious metal elements Platinum,
4E PGMs Palladium, Rhodium and Gold
6E ounces include the 4E elements plus additional Iridium
6E PGMs and Ruthenium
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AGM Annual General Meeting
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AIM Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange
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All-in sustaining Production costs plus all costs relating to sustaining current
cost production and sustaining capital expenditure.
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All-in sustaining cost plus non-sustaining and expansion capital
All-in cost expenditure
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ASX Australian Securities Exchange
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Bonus Shares Sylvania Platinum Limited Bonus Share Award Plan
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CGU Cash generating unit
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Fresh chrome tails from current operating host mines processing
Current risings operations
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DMR Department of Mineral Resources
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EBITDA Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation
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EA Environmental Authorisation
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EIA Environmental Impact Assessment
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EIR Effective interest rate
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EMPR Environmental Management Programme Report
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GBP Great British Pound
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IASB International Accounting Standards Board
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IFRIC International Financial Reporting Interpretation Committee
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IFRS International Financial Reporting Standards
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I&APs Interested and Affected Parties
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Ironveld Ironveld Plc
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IRR Internal Rate of Return
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JV Joint venture
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Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment and
LEDET Tourism
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Phoenix Platinum Mining Proprietary Limited, renamed Sylvania
Lesedi Lesedi
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LSE London Stock Exchange
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LTI Lost time injury
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MF2 Milling and flotation technology
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MPRDA Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act
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MRA Mining Right Application
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MTO Mining Titles Office
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NOMR New Order Mining Right
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NWA National Water Act 36 of 1998
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Option Plan Sylvania Platinum Limited Share Option Plan
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Platinum group metals comprising mainly platinum, palladium,
PGM rhodium and gold
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PAR Pan African Resources Plc
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Phoenix Platinum Mining Proprietary Limited, renamed Sylvania
Phoenix Lesedi
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Pipeline ounces 6E ounces delivered but not invoiced
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Revenue recognised for ounces delivered, but not yet invoiced
Pipeline revenue based on contractual timelines
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Pipeline sales Adjustments to pipeline revenues based on the basket price
adjustment for the period between delivery and invoicing
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Programme Sylvania Platinum Share Buyback Programme
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Project Echo Secondary PGM Milling and Flotation (MF2) program announced
in FY2017 to design and install additional new additional
fine grinding mills and flotation circuits at Millsell, Doornbosch,
Tweefontein and Mooinooi.
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Revenue (by
products) Revenue earned on Ruthenium, Iridium, Nickel and Copper
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RoM Run of mine
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SDO Sylvania dump operations
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Shares Common shares
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Sylvania Sylvania Platinum Limited, a company incorporated in Bermuda
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USD United States Dollar
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WIP Work in progress
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WULA Water Use Licence Application
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UK United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
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ZAR South African Rand
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This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the
London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct
Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United
Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution
of this information may apply. For further information, please
contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.
END
FR PPMFTMBMTMTP
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
August 28, 2018 02:07 ET (06:07 GMT)
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